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Skydiver Luke Aikins makes world's highest parachute-free jump, landing in net

Xinhua, July 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

A veteran skydiver made history Saturday when he jumped out a plane without a parachute or wingsuit and successfully landed in a net in the middle of a desert in California.

In a stunt called, "Heaven Sent," 42-year-old Luke Aikins jumped from the plane from a height of 7,620 meters to the ground, setting the world record for the highest jump without a parachute or a wingsuit.

The jump was aired live on television via the Fox network. "Luke Skydiver" fell for about two minutes, during which he had to adjust his body using only the air currents around him.

Throughout the entire free fall, Aikins appeared to be able to control his body effortlessly, with his arms and legs extended, face downward. And he managed to flipped onto his back and landed in a 900-square-meter high-tech net laid to catch him.

As the crowd erupted into cheers, Aikins quickly climbed out the net and hugged his wife and their 4-year-old son.

"I'm almost levitating, it's incredible," Aikins said.

Aikins had previously done more than 18,000 parachute jumps and performed a variety of stunts, including from "Ironman 3." Endi